Rugged, snow-capped mountains stand imposingly amid the wild south of Argentina and Chile, fringed by huge icy lakes and windswept grasslands. In the distance shy guanacos roam and a few hardy gauchos tend their many sheep. We discover the sheer-sided peak of Mount Fitzroy and the immense Perito Moreno Glacier, where chunks of ice are often seen cracking into the water. Our journey culminates in Ushuaia - the most southerly city in the world. Renowned for world class trekking and outdoor activities, the raw natural beauty of Patagonia never fails to astound.

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Buenos Aires; walking tour.

Those on the group flight will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in Buenos Aires. Those on land only arrangements should make their own way to the start hotel this afternoon. Our local leader will meet us today for a briefing and take us on a short walking tour of the city, discovering its wealth of history and culture. The evening is free for you to choose one of the many excellent restaurants, most serving the legendary Argentine steaks!See more images and videos

2Day 2Fly to El Calafate; to El Chalten.

This morning we fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate and transfer to the small mountain town of El Chalten. The town enjoys a beautiful location in Los Glaciares National Park with breathtaking views of Mount Fitzroy and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

We set off amidst incredible mountains and valleys for a day walk. First we hike to Cerro Fitzroy Base Camp with amazing views of the striking massif ahead. In the afternoon we continue to the picturesque Laguna de los Tres, a glacial lake whose still waters reflect the three main peaks of the range. This is a full day of walking over fairly rough terrain, but with impressive, rugged scenery along the way.See more images and videos

4Day 4Optional activities; to El Calafate.

Today has been left free to enjoy an additional trek or an optional boat trip to another highlight of this area: the Viedma Glacier. In the late afternoon we take the public bus to El Calafate.See more images and videos

5Day 5Visit Perito Moreno Glacier; optional boat trip.

Today we visit the Perito Moreno Glacier. This immense jagged sheet of ice stretches over 3 miles across Lago Argentino and rises 200ft out if its cold waters. It is the fastest moving glacier on the planet and the eerie creaks and thunderous groans add a certain atmosphere of anticipation. Every so often an office block sized chunk of ice calves from its face into the water below before slowly floating down the lake as a giant iceberg. An optional boat trip gives an even greater appreciation of the immense scale of this wonder and a hike on the glistening surface is truly unforgettable.

We will spend a second day here to allow exploration of the town's surroundings. It is possible to take a gentle walk along Lago Argentina to see birdlife (including flamingos), or a slightly more demanding hike for some fantastic views stretching over the Patagonian Steppe and towards the mountainous border with Chile. Alternatively you can join an optional excursion to a local Estancia or to Todo Glaciares - this navigation includes Upsala Glacier, Bahia Onelli (where pieces of glacier are floating in the water), Spegazzinni Glacier and also the north face of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

A long drive across the border into Chile today before we arrive in one of the world's most beautiful national parks, Torres del Paine (please note that due to local regulations we must change buses at the border). We may have time after we check-in for a short walk next to Laguna Amarga or Laguna Azul, which offer great panoramic views of the Paine Massif and the striking granite Horns of Paine.See more images and videos

8Day 8Daywalk to the Torres del Paine.

Without a doubt, one of the biggest highlights of the park is to hike up to the base of the Towers of Paine. The walk itself is beautiful, trekking through forests and offering some fantastic views across the park. Although not a difficult trek, the last few feet can be a bit of a scramble so you need a reasonably good level of fitness. The reward on reaching the small lake at the base of these sheer granite peaks however, far outweighs the effort involved.

Today we will see the main highlights of the park as we drive towards the Park Administration buildings at Rio Serrano. The granite horns are the most recognisable feature of the park and can be seen from various viewpoints. We will also stop close to Lake Nordenskjold and Lake Pehoe, as well as at the two waterfalls of Salto Grande and Salto Chico. Please note that weather conditions will affect the itinerary in the park. In the afternoon we transfer to Cerro Sombrero in a private vehicle and during this journey we'll have a short ferry trip across the Magellan Straits.

Tierra del Fuego (The Land of Fire) is named after the original inhabitants who used to light bonfires to ward off the winter chill. Crossing the island we'll have views of the most southerly part of the Andes before catching our first glimpses of Ushuaia at the end of the world! This is a long driving day but we use a private bus to make the journey more comfortable. We should arrive at our hotel around 7pm depending on weather conditions and traffic. We advise you to take plenty of water and snacks for the journey.See more images and videos

We'll spend this morning in the stark wilderness of Tierra del Fuego National Park, walking amongst the varied terrain, flora and fauna. In the afternoon there is an optional boat ride along the Beagle Channel to see marine wildlife including penguins, sea lions and many species of water bird including a flightless duck! We are also afforded fantastic views of Ushuaia and its backdrop of often snow-capped peaks as we head out on the boat.
For those wanting more adventure or not wishing to trek, an optional full-day 4WD excursion will be on offer which will take us deep into the wilds of Tierra del Fuego where any more conventional transport would fail to reach, including the remote Lakes Fagnano and Escondido (please note it is not possible to see penguins on this tour).

Depending upon the flight time, we may have some free time this morning in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. There are great views from the hills leading up to the Martial Glacier and some small shops to pick up souvenirs. Ushuaia has just one museum, housed in the former prison, which is worth a visit. We fly back to Buenos Aires and usually arrive in time to visit one of the excellent tango shows in the old quarter of San Telmo (optional) and enjoy a last group meal together.See more images and videos

13Day 13End Buenos Aires.

Depending on the time of your flight home you may have another chance to see more of cosmopolitan Buenos Aires. After last night's tango show we might be tempted to learn a few steps, or watch it in the streets and plazas - particularly in the old quarter of San Telmo. A visit to the grave of Evita in the remarkable Recoleta Cemetery, said to be the most expensive real estate in the world, is possible. Those on group flights will leave today for the flight back to London.See more images and videos

Accommodation details

Hotels, Lodges & Mountain Refuges

On standard departures you will spend 7 nights in comfortable hotels with en suite facilities, 3 nights in lodges and 2 nights in mountain refuges. On upgraded departures you will spend 11 nights in comfortable hotels with en facilities and 1 night in a lodge. Single rooms can be arranged for a supplement and extra nights can be arranged in Buenos Aires.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa

British passport holders do not need a visa for tourist visits to either Argentina or Chile
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for this trip.
Recommended vaccinations for this trip are: Tetanus, Hepatitis A.
We are advised that there is no risk of malaria on this trip.
Due to a recent outbreak of Yellow Fever in the Misiones province of Argentina, vaccinations are strongly recommended if you intend to visit the Iguazu Falls.

Holiday style

While this trip is graded Moderate, we recommend you have a reasonably good level of fitness to really enjoy the hiking opportunities available. All of these are non-compulsory day walks and do not exceed 20km. We have two internal flights on this trip to reduce driving but there are still some long drives, some of which are done using public transport. The longest drive is when we cross the border from El Calafate to Torres del Paine and when travelling south from Cerro Sombrero to Ushuaia (this leg is done by private bus). When using public transport, please be aware that the comfort and standards of driving may be lower than would be expected in Europe - unfortunately this is something that we have limited control over.

Eating & drinking

Hotel breakfasts are normally buffet-style and are included. The accommodation in Torres del Paine will arrange packed lunches for days when we are trekking. There is a variety of good, quality food on offer in local restaurants and cafes usually for relatively low prices (although the refuge that we stay in for the standard itinerary in Torres del Paine is the exception as facilities here are limited). Vegetarians are catered for throughout the trip, but please ensure that you advise us before you travel so that we can make the necessary arrangements on your behalf.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

Since Patagonia is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons there are the opposite to those in Europe. Trips to Patagonia are therefore organized between October and April, to take advantage of the longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures. During these months the temperatures in Buenos Aires reach a maximum of 30degC, El Calafate/Torres del Paine/Punta Arenas around 15degC and in the extreme south, in Tierra del Fuego, 14degC.

These are the daytime maximums and the average figures are likely to be a little lower than this. The nights can go down as low as freezing but often remain around mid single figures. The Patagonia summer tends to be dry although rain cannot be ruled out, particularly in the mountainous regions along the Chile/Argentine border. Patagonia is renowned for its wind and it is not unheard of to experience all four seasons in one day!

Gallery

Reviews & community

It is a bit of an effort to get to Patagonia but it is worth it. The Andes are majestic and the glaciers mesmerising. A two week tour really is not enough time to do justice to the area.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Getting up to the lake at the base of Fitzroy. It was a tough hike especially the last bit, but it was so beautiful up there. If you get the right weather you will never forget the view.

What did you think of your group leader?

Denis was a friendly and helpful leader, but sometimes his organizational skills were a little unorganized.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Try and push for an early start on the days of the main hikes. It will give you more time to go at your own pace. Take walking poles if you have them as the walks are hard. At Torres del Paine we set off (late) in really nice weather, but by the time we got to the top it was snowing, it was 1 degree centigrade, and we couldn't see anything. Check on the currency situation before you go. Make sure you have large denomination US$ bills to exchange to get the best rates. It is worth adding on a few days to see Buenos Aires and make a trip across to Colonia (Uruguay).

Is there anything else you would like to add?

As a vegetarian I was concerned about food on the trip. However, there are several good places in Buenos Aires which are easy to find on Google. The included food at the refuge was better than I expected and the hotel food in Calafate was very good. From Torres to Ushuaia and in Ushuaia itself there was not much choice on offer, so take some standby snacks for those days.

Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We were a small group of nine people.
Pepe our leader was very good and kept us up to date with all the schedules and where we would be walking to on the day as sometimes due to weather conditions changes needed to be made.
I went on the upgraded trip (no camping) and I found all of the hostels and hotels very comfortable and the staff were accommodating.
Some of us were lucky to see ice being calved from the glacier - that was amazing.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Walking on the glacier and being mesmerised by the stunning colours of the icebergs and glaciers.
Walking in the Tierra del Fuego National Park
Hiking to the base camp of Fitzroy

What did you think of your group leader?

Pepe was very good group leader. He was very informative, had a good command of the English language. He was resourceful in arranging trips and booking tables at restaurants at short notice for us.
Pepe had a good sense of humour and kept us entertained.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Walking on the glacier and bring mesmerised by the stunning colours of the icebergs and glaciers.
Walking in the Tierra del Fuego National Park
Hiking to the base camp of Fitzroy

What did you think of your group leader?

Pepe was very good group leader. He was very informative, had a good command of the English language. He was resourceful in arranging trips and booking tables at restaurants at short notice for us.
Pepe had a good sense of humour and kept us entertained.

Growing up in a flat part of Ireland wasn't the most obvious starting point for a love of mountains and travel, but it's something which has been with Brendan since he first made it to Nepal 15 years ago. These days, he still tries to squeeze in a yearly trip to some corner of the globe but managing both the Customer Operations team and a young family (not at the same time) keep his hands pretty full!

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Are dollars best for this trip?

Yes, taking a mix of dollar denominations is the best idea for this trip. Taking cash is fine, as long you exercise the same degree of common sense you would at home. The leader will best advise you on changing it once you arrive. ATMs are becoming more common but you shouldn't rely on them 100%, in case there are any problems.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

What is Patagonian weather like?

Unpredictable! One thing you can be sure though is the wind - Patagonia is famous for it. Due to proximity of the sea the climate in Patagonia is actually relatively mild. The temperatures don't go very low in winter and don't jump up in summer. Eastern Patagonia (Argentinean side) tends to be a bit warmer because of the warm equatorial current reaching the coast there. Summer is usually dry and rather sunny. Temperature during the day could reach the low 20s but it is more likely to be in the high teens. In the night it drops to 5-10 degrees. The Chilean side (e.g. Torres del Paine National Park) is definitely wetter - you can expect rain any time. It is also a few degrees colder as the west coast is washed by a cold current.

Karol Rogacki - Americas Operations

How long are the driving days?

Because of the distances involved, and the road conditions, some drives can feel long. However, there are ample opportunities to stop so you can grab something to eat or use the toilet. A long lunch stop is also within the itinerary, so you should have plenty of chances to stretch your legs!.

Karol Rogacki - Customer Operations

How much should I budget for optional activities in Patagonia?

There is always a lot to see and do in Patagonia, either as part of the trip or as an extra optional activity. If you are interested in maximising your time there, you need to budget accordingly. Full details for optional activities are in the detailed trip notes and, as costs for some items can be high, you need to ensure you have allowed for everything you would like to do.

Karol Rogacki - Americas Operations

I'm travelling via the US, do I need a visa?

Most clients are eligible to travel via the US under the US Visa Waiver Programme, however to do this you must register for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). This must be done prior to departure - more details can be found at www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa.

Rebecca Caldicott - Customer Operations

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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Trip Extension: If you would like to see the magnificent Iguazu Falls or experience the Northwest Argentinean region of Salta then it is possible to extend your trip. For more details please refer to our Trip Notes. Alternatively you can call our Sales team who will be happy to assist you.

**More 2015 dates to be released soon**

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